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In Brief | Nation and World

WEST BERLIN, N.J. — Two NBA championship rings that Kobe Bryant gave to his parents each sold for more than $100,000 at an auction that supported one of his charities.

Goldin Auctions said six items of Bryant memorabilia sold for a combined $433,531 in the monthlong auction that closed early Saturday morning.

A 2000 Lakers championship ring gifted by Bryant to his father, Joe, sold for $174,184. A ring given to his mother, Pamela, from the same championship season went for $108,153.

Bryant had filed a suit against the auction company, saying his mother didn’t have the right to sell the items. A settlement was reached last month allowing six items to be auctioned after the five-time NBA champion’s parents apologized to their son and thanked him for his financial support.

The other items included Bryant’s 2000 NBA All-Star game ring, which sold for $55,597, two game-worn uniforms from high school and a medallion and ribbon from the 1996 Magic’s Roundball Classic.

As part of the sale, Goldin Auctions is donating $62,565 to The Bully Project, a Kobe Bryant supported charity.

The highest-priced item that wasn’t from the Bryant collection was a bat used by Jackie Robinson during his 1949 MVP season that sold for $159,867.

In all, Goldin Auctions sold more than $2.4 million worth of memorabilia in the 1,150 lot auction.

NCAA rejects claims in concussion lawsuit

CHICAGO — Rejecting claims made in a lawsuit concerning concussions, the NCAA said Saturday it has taken steps to protect student athletes from head injuries and that player safety is among the college sports association’s core principles.

Attorneys suing the NCAA over its handling of head injuries asked a federal judge Friday to let them expand the lawsuit to include thousands of plaintiffs nationwide. The motion seeking class-action status was filed in U.S. District Court in Chicago, where the original lawsuit was filed in 2011 on behalf of former Eastern Illinois football player Adrian Arrington and several other former athletes.

“Student-athlete safety is one of the NCAA’s foundational principles,” said spokeswoman Stacey Osburn. “The NCAA has been at the forefront of safety issues throughout its existence.”

She said the association has addressed the issue of head injuries through a combination of playing rules, equipment requirements and medical practices. The NCAA does not believe the legal action is appropriate, Osburn said.

Concussions have become a major concern in sports in recent years. The NFL, NHL and college football, among others, have implemented stricter rules on hits to the head and player safety. The NFL is involved in a lawsuit involving more than 4,000 former players seeking millions of dollars for problems they blame on head injuries suffered during their careers.

Cardinals place Matt Holliday on disabled list

ST. LOUIS — The St. Louis Cardinals are making the best of the All-Star break with outfielder Matt Holliday, who they believe just needs a little more time to recover from a strained hamstring.

Holliday was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday, retroactive to July 12. The No. 3 hitter had already missed four games after getting hurt running to first on July 11 at Chicago.

“It was that missing 10-20 percent where he still felt a little something,” manager Mike Matheny said. “We just had too many things going in our favor, all the time that’s already passed, the break, a day off on Monday.”

The team purchased the contract of first baseman/outfielder Brock Peterson, a Pacific Coast League All-Star at Triple-A Memphis.

The 33-year-old Holliday, a career .310 hitter, is batting .268 with 13 home runs and 47 RBIs.

The 29-year-old Peterson was batting .306 and led the PCL with 22 homers to go with 66 RBIs in 93 games at Memphis.

Nationals’ Detwiler to miss at least two more starts

WASHINGTON — Davey Johnson will have to wait a while longer before he can restore his preferred Washington Nationals pitching rotation.

The manager said Saturday that Ross Detwiler didn’t complete a full bullpen session and will miss at least two more starts while dealing with a lower back strain.

Johnson had set his rotation out of the All-Star break anticipating Detwiler would return from the 15-day disabled list in time to start Tuesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Instead, rookie Double-A call-up Taylor Jordan (0-2) will remain with the club and hold Detwiler’s spot. Washington will also need a fill-in starter for Friday’s doubleheader against the New York Mets.

Johnson said “nothing so far has worked” in the efforts to treat Detwiler’s back. Detwiler has struggled since returning last month from a separate back injury, a right oblique strain that also had him on the DL.

Detwiler is 0-3 with a 6.31 ERA since returning from the oblique injury. He is 2-7 with a 4.04 ERA for the season.

Rockies place Betancourt on DL after appendectomy

DENVER — The Colorado Rockies placed right-hander Rafael Betancourt on the disabled list after the closer had his appendix removed Friday night.

The team recalled righty Mitchell Boggs from Double-A Tulsa on Saturday to take Betancourt’s place in the bullpen.

Betancourt’s son, Rafael, told the Rockies his father was ill Thursday night after a team workout at Coors Field.

Betancourt is expected to miss up to three weeks. He is 2-3 with a 3.16 ERA and 15 saves in 16 chances in 28 games this season.